Mbeki takes action on DRC
2003-05-10 22:26
Johannesburg - President Thabo Mbeki is to petition UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urgently to get UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to be more aggressive in defending civilians in the war-torn country, or to make way for African intervention, the Sunday Times reported in an early edition.
Mbeki's security adviser, Billy Masethla, said the president, in his capacity as the chairman of the African Union, would this week appeal to Annan to push for UN troops to be authorised to open fire on militia attacking civilians in the east of the massive central African state.
The paper added that DRC President Joseph Kabila would prefer the UN force in the country, known by its French acronym, Monuc, to be withdrawn so that an integrated national force, supported by African troops, can defend his country.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Saturday he was deeply concerned by continuing insecurity in the north-eastern region of the DRC.
"I am deeply alarmed by the deterioration of the security situation in Bunia," Annan said in a statement.
"Thousands of civilians have fled their homes, while militia groups are fighting for control of the town and engaged in extensive looting."
The Bunia headquarters of Monuc, the UN military mission in the DRC, "has been attacked by militias, despite the fact that it is sheltering thousands of innocent civilians," Annan added.
He further said militias "have also fired into crowds of displaced persons seeking shelter near Bunia airport."
UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guehenno on Friday briefed the Security Council that nearly 700 UN troops had been deployed to Bunia, but stressed that without decisive action, the situation might nevertheless spin out of control, leading possibly to the massive killing of civilians.
"I am therefore asking the Security Council to consider effective measures to prevent the situation from deteriorating with further loss of civilian lives," Annan said. "I have called on the Government of Uganda to use its influence over militia forces in Ituri to maintain calm."
He also commended the courage shown by Monuc personnel in Bunia, "as well as by members of the United Nations agencies and NGOs located there, who are trying to keep an elusive peace, despite overwhelming odds. My heart goes out to the innocent civilians who once again find themselves at the mercy of unruly militia. The international community must make every effort to quickly address this dire situation," Annan concluded.
Fighting in the town is generally attributed to long-standing rivalry between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups.
- SAPA